Oct 17 - 46/45 - McCain +01
Thoughts On Pass Christian, Mississippi
I just got back from a week of volunteering here:
I took photo on the left of City Hall one year ago on my first visit. I took the photo on the right last week. These two images of City Hall help to illustrate my overall impression of the lack of progress that has been made in the little town. The City Hall has been demolished, but not there is just the empty tile foundation. In the background you can now see the library, which has been replaced by a small trailer about 10 blocks away.
Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and Pass Christian on August 29, 2005:
Not much has changed in Pass Christian. The east side of the town has seen some recovery and some of the neighborhoods have a fair number of houses rebuilt. Many of the homes in the neighborhoods where I walked were abandoned and no one was there to work on them. Some of the homes closer to the coast had small white FEMA trailers sitting in shady spots next to houses that ranged from completed restoration to no change since the hurricane.
Most of these pictures were taken on the west side of town which currently has no power, sewer, or water. As we worked doing debris removal along the sides of the roads, we pulled clothing, wallets, toys, coins, cds, and just about any other personal item you can think of out of the Mississippi weeds. Some of the items were partially embedded in the soil and as we pulled them out it helped to reinforce how much time had passed since the hurricane.
As I worked, I wondered why this stuff hadn't been done by someone else a long time ago. Why was there still trash everywhere after 20 months? But, I also felt a satisfaction in knowing that I was working in a place that needed my unskilled labor. The University of Akron sent down 57 students who made a drop in the bucket contribution to a community that needs a lot more. Still, it was satisfying to be seen by the people there. Many of the cars that drove by would yell "thanks y'all" and some handed out cold Powerade. It was nice. I felt proud. I felt a connection to the place through my labor. I'd like to go back there on vacation someday to see the place alive.
I took photo on the left of City Hall one year ago on my first visit. I took the photo on the right last week. These two images of City Hall help to illustrate my overall impression of the lack of progress that has been made in the little town. The City Hall has been demolished, but not there is just the empty tile foundation. In the background you can now see the library, which has been replaced by a small trailer about 10 blocks away.
Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and Pass Christian on August 29, 2005:
Not much has changed in Pass Christian. The east side of the town has seen some recovery and some of the neighborhoods have a fair number of houses rebuilt. Many of the homes in the neighborhoods where I walked were abandoned and no one was there to work on them. Some of the homes closer to the coast had small white FEMA trailers sitting in shady spots next to houses that ranged from completed restoration to no change since the hurricane.
Most of these pictures were taken on the west side of town which currently has no power, sewer, or water. As we worked doing debris removal along the sides of the roads, we pulled clothing, wallets, toys, coins, cds, and just about any other personal item you can think of out of the Mississippi weeds. Some of the items were partially embedded in the soil and as we pulled them out it helped to reinforce how much time had passed since the hurricane.
As I worked, I wondered why this stuff hadn't been done by someone else a long time ago. Why was there still trash everywhere after 20 months? But, I also felt a satisfaction in knowing that I was working in a place that needed my unskilled labor. The University of Akron sent down 57 students who made a drop in the bucket contribution to a community that needs a lot more. Still, it was satisfying to be seen by the people there. Many of the cars that drove by would yell "thanks y'all" and some handed out cold Powerade. It was nice. I felt proud. I felt a connection to the place through my labor. I'd like to go back there on vacation someday to see the place alive.
By Kyle - 3/26/2007
10 Comments:
that was a great thing to do and those pictures kind of pint a picture you cant read about.
You are a better man than me Kyle. Really a great thing.
Kyle, you're doing a heck of a job.
I was in the NOLA/coastal MS area a year ago January for work (the nearest hotel to the Navy facility in MS was at the NOLA convention center!), and it was astonishing how terrible the storm damage was, and how widespread. Two areas specifically stood out for me: Waveland, MS, where between the railroad tracks and the sea everything was literally scraped clean to the foundation, and East New Orleans, where it was mile after mile after mile of destroyed homes and apartments. Destroyed cars were everywhere, including in canals. It looked like a war zone.
When I went, months after the storm, huge areas were without the power necessary to run streetlights or traffic signals. Big box hardware stores were operating out of tractor trailers and a mobile home. It was upsetting that so little progress had been made by then - it's criminal that so little progress has been made by now.
I wish I could get away for a week to donate some labor.
Brian, I think it would frustrate you how little has changed.
Kyle,
I echo Ben and Chuck's sentiments.
We all talk but you walk the walk
You know folks, Kyle made a noble and generous effort down there, but there are plenty of organizations around here that could use an hour or two of your time. Why not use Kyle's experience to inspire you to find a charity of your choice. It's not that hard.
Everyone is being so diplomatic...... to me this just proves what a worthless administration we have in power. Just like in Iraq, all the money congress sends is just making the few richer and the most poorer. What a disgrace this is. I don't care what your politics are, this is a sad time for our country.
I got the chance to talk to an Alderman in Pass Christian, which is kind of like a City Councilman. He said that the problem is that in order to qualify for federal help you have to fall below very low requirements which most residents exceed. He said that most people had inadequate insurance coverage so they are just out of luck. Also, the local government has very few resources because their tax base has been nonexistant for 20 months.
The Gulf Coast is a place where President Bush could step up and help to build a positive legacy for himself in the last years of his Presidency. I'd also like to see the new Democrat Majority step in and fill the leadership void.
Kyle, agreed on both of your last points..it would be a place to try and build some sort of leagcy, though obviously the big opportunity was missed by the President there. But something late would be better than nothing. The new majorites in Congress have been quiet on the issue as well.
That is a good point about the tax bases.
And Tim, I would agree, that R or D or Whatever, it is sad.
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